AN: Hello everyone! Italics means they are speaking Elvish. Also, there are improvements to the story, added/changed dialogue and general fixes to errors. And there is a new bit because why not! =) I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 36

I was making my way through the crowd, it was late but the Golden Hall was still packed. Everyone was dancing, laughing or sharing stories of the people that died since the battle at Helm's Deep. Haldir had left to go tend to his men. A wistful smile appeared on my face as I remembered our dance together. It was those moments that I will remember forever.

I scanned the crowd, noticing Gimli's unconscious body being hauled away by a few men. I cover my mouth with my hand as a unattractive snort escaped from my mouth. What in the world did he do?! Legolas was following closely behind him. He glanced over the crowd, his eyes landing on me. He sent me a little wave, his eyes shining brightly with amusement. I sent him a wave back as he continued to follow the men carrying Gimli away. I could see that there was a crowd surrounding a singing pair. I made my way over, curiosity getting the better of me. I found myself beside Alma and Baldoren, both clapping along as I watched Merry and Pippin dancing on a table, singing with mugs in their hands.

"…But the only brew for the brave and true! Comes from the Green Dragon!" The Hobbits ended, clanking their mugs together before chugging them back. Everyone laughed, cheered and clapped excitedly.

"Those Hobbits are a lively folk!" Alma yelled over at me. I could barely hear her over the roar of the crowd. I laughed as I touched her arm lightly, leaning over to talk into her ear.

"Just think what would happen if we had a whole tavern of them!" I joked as Alma laughed loudly as the crowd separated. Alma turned to me, touching my face lightly.

"My husband and I are going to retire for the evening. You are a lovely young woman, Esperanza. Do not be a stranger. You are always welcomed in our home." Alma stated as I gave her a warm smile. I pulled her into a hug, cinnamon and sugar wafting up into my nostrils. She held me tightly, her hands rubbing my back like my mother used to do.

"Good night, Alma. Good night, Baldoren." I said as Alma pulled away. Baldoren pulled me into an unexpected hug, squeezing me to him tightly before he let go. With a nod, I watched them make their way through the crowd and out the double doors.

"You danced well this evening." I heard from beside me. I looked over at Aragorn and smiled. He looked thoughtful and I saw that he had something on his mind.

"Thank you. It is been a long while since I have celebrated like this." I said as Aragorn smiled. A servant walked by, handing us mugs filled with honey mead. I took a sip, enjoying the warmth I gave me.

"I wished it was under a different circumstance." Aragorn murmured sadly. I studied him, my dark eyes filling with concern at the somber mood he was in.

"My people had a festival similar to this. It was called 'Dia de los Muertos' or Day of the Dead. It was a day to pray and remember the people that we had lost. We would make alters for them with a picture… a drawing of their likeness above it." I explained as Aragorn listened intrigued. "We had a celebration in their honor. We would drink, dance, and eat while sharing memories of them. It was sad yet happy time. And we believed that they could cross over and join us in celebration." We would cry and laugh during that time. But there were people there that knew how the other person felt. It was a good way to grieve and the remember the good and bad times. And having family support was a great way to cope with our losses.

"This must be a hard time for you." Aragorn said as I felt his hand on my shoulder. I sent him an appreciative smile at his thoughtfulness. It has been a little over five years since I was brought into Middle Earth. Everything always reminded me of home and my family. It was sad at times but there were also moments of pure happiness. I know that they would want me to live my life to the fullest and not waste it on drowning in loneliness and sorrow.

"It is bittersweet. I was almost convinced that I was a terrible person… a terrible daughter… a terrible sister… a terrible friend." I explained as we leaned against a support beam, watching as the Hobbits started to sing another song. "But I realized he was a liar. A desperate man trying to save his own skin. In the end, it did him no good." I said as I took another sip of my mug. I turned my eyes to Aragorn as he met my gaze. "But today has been a good day. I remember my family and Merendír with a fondness. I count my blessings that we made it through another day. We won the Battle as Helm's Deep. We defeated Saruman. Our friends are alive and the others are making their way to Mordor. And I have Haldir by my side until the end." I finished as Aragorn smiled warmly at me. His eyes flashing in a momentary sadness, no doubt for his own love that was making her way to the Undying Lands with her people.

"I believe they would be proud of you, your family and Merendír. You have lived honorable and true to who you are." Aragorn said as I smiled at his words. I knew his words were true. I knew they were proud.

"I hope so." I said as we went quiet for a moment. I looked over at him, seeing that he was still concerned. "What troubles you?" I asked but Aragorn shook his head, his eyes giving away that he was going to sweep his troubles under the rug.

"There…" He started but I stopped him with a hand on the shoulder. He looked up at me as I gave him my 'Don't lie to me, mister' look. "There has been no news of Frodo or Sam." Aragorn said as his grey eyes looked into my dark ones. "Gandalf believes they are alive and my heart hopes for the best yet…" Aragorn trailed off, not wanting to finish his voicing his troubled thoughts.

"It fears the worst." I finished as he nodded. "It is a frustrating set of emotions. It tugs on your heart, pulling it in different directions with such intensity that you believe it will pull apart your heart. One moment you feel certain that they are alive, making their way safely to Mordor. But then you get hit with doubt. The fear of their safety starts to flood your heart until you feel like you are drowning. Your mind goes over the past, wondering what else you could have done to help them more. You struggle to breathe, to find some reprieve but the more your struggle, the tighter the hold becomes until you feel yourself about to give in." I said as I looked at Aragorn. He looked at me like I was reading his thoughts. If he only knew how many times I felt those emotions over and over again.

"That is how I feel." He said as he searched my face for answers. "How do you overcome such doubt?" He asked me. I sent him a warm smile while placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Hope." I stated. "Hope is what overcomes doubt. It is the fire that keeps us fighting. Hope is what will help our friends prevail. Never give up hope that we will win this war. Never give up in each other. When we let in doubt, that is when all is lost." I said as Aragorn processed my words.

"And what do you believe?" He asked me and I smiled. I'm sure he already knew what I felt. I was the official naysayer in the group.

"I believe they are still out there, somewhere. I learned that Hobbits are amazing creatures. They can endure so much and yet keep the light in their hearts. Frodo and Sam are alive and moving closer and closer to Mordor." I said as I squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. "We have to keep on fighting until the very end. Until we win this war." I finished as Aragorn smiled. I felt his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it in gratitude.

"I believe that as well. Thank you for your honesty and wise counsel. You helped me breathe once more." He said as my hand dropped to my side and I sent him a large smile.

"I am always here for you, Aragorn. I will always have your back." I said as Aragorn seemed touched by my words.

"I would have no one else defending it." He said which made me smile. I would follow that man into Hell itself if he asked me to. He was going to make a great King. Aragorn looked around before his eyes settled onto me. "Where is your Marchwarden?" He asked as I looked around too. Where was he?

"Good question. I should go look for him." I said as I touched my hand went to the side of Aragorn's face in a gesture of comfort. "Good night Aragorn. Keep the hope burning and if you need anyone, come find me." I said as he nodded, a small smile on his face.

"I will. Goodnight, my friend." He said as I made my way through the crowd, looking for my handsome Elf.

I should have known that looking for Haldir over the crowd would be absolutely impossible. After about an hour, I gave up, knowing that he would find me. The exhaustion of the night and the previous days was catching up to me. I let out a yawn, my body telling me that I needed to get myself ready for bed. I made my way to my room, waving at those that I have seen all night.

"Esperanza!" I heard amongst the crowd. I looked to where I thought I heard my voice to see Boromir making his way to me, the blonde woman from earlier watching him leave.

"Hey you!" I said as I placed a hand on his shoulder in greeting, a warm smile on my face.

Boromir glanced around, his eyes searching for something before settling on me. "Where is your Marchwarden? I thought he would have been stuck on your side." He asked as I pushed his shoulder roughly, earning a chuckle from the man.

"He went to tend to his men. I was looking for him but…" I said before waving to the crowd around me. Boromir smiled as his hand rested on top of my head, patting it in a condescending way.

"You are so tiny." He stated in which I rolled my eyes at him. What a punk!

"I am not tiny!" I yelled slightly, pushing him again at his teasing. "I'm just short. There is a difference, you big brute." I stated as Boromir laughed, his laughter carrying over the loud noise. I glanced at the blonde woman standing off to the side, a man I recognized from Helm's Deep at her side. Both watching the interaction with curiosity. "So… who is she?" I asked as I motioned with my head to the two.

Boromir glanced over his shoulder slightly before turning around. "Her name is Fréama." He stated as I waited for him to tell more. But he just stood there, silent.

"And…" I asked, hinting that I wanted all the details. He just shrugged in response.

"There's nothing to tell." He stated as I groaned at his stubbornness. It's like pulling teeth! Why are men so hard to deal with?!

"Good lord, Boromir… don't be so coy! It's not like I'm going to go and scare the woman away! Give me some details! How did you meet? Where did you meet? What's she like? What's her story? Details!" I stated as Boromir looked uncertain. I stomped my foot slightly, earning a raised eyebrow from him as I crossed my arms in front of my chest. Fine. I was going to pull out the only card I had. "As your honorary sister, I demand details!" I stated which earned a smile along with a laugh. Boromir motioned to an empty table off to the side. A servant brought us drink which we took as we sat down.

Boromir took a sip from his drink before folding his arms on the table. "I met her at Helm's Deep. I went to ensure the women and children were safe after the battle was won. I saw her amongst the women. Our eyes met and…" He stopped, glancing over to where we could see her and the man talking amongst themselves. She smiled at the man which in return made Boromir smile. I watched as he studied her, his eyes filled with an emotion I've never seen before but knew what it was instantly. It was love. Pure, beautiful love. "There is something about her…" Boromir started but stopped, not finding the words to express what he was feeling in that moment. But I knew what he was feelings.

"Your heart reached out to hers and it felt like you could see into each other's soul?" I finished for him as he looked at me like I just read his mind. "The world died away until it was just the two of you in that moment together." Boromir nodded in agreement, his hands gripping the mug fiercely.

"Yes…" Boromir finally whispered. He cleared his throat, taking another sip from his mug. "Is that what happened between you and your Marchwarden?" He asked in curiosity. I smiled at him as I remembered the first time I saw him. God… that seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Yes except I was blind to it at the time. I never thought a man like him could love someone like me. Yet here we are." I stated with a broad smile on my face. I reached my hands forward, bringing his hands in between them. Boromir looked down at our hands before looking into my eyes, confusion written on his face. "I am happy for you, Boromir. You deserve all the happiness in the world." I said as I squeezed his hands. He smiled in response, it was soft and filled with affection.

"Fréama wishes to speak to you. As well as her brother, Fréador." Boromir stated as I patted his hands before standing, motioning with my hand to lead the way. As we passed a servant, I grabbed two more mugs. Boromir led the way, sending a small smile over his shoulder as we stopped in front of the pair.

Boromir bowed deeply to the pair, motioning between us. "Esperanza, may I introduce Fréama and Fréador of Rohan." Boromir introduced as Fréador bowed deeply as Fréama curtsied, both had warm smiles on their faces.

"It is an honor, milady." Fréador said as I returned the curtsy.

"The honor is mine." I said as righted myself, handing the mugs to them with a smile. They both gave me a appreciative smile.

"You may not remember me…" Fréador started but I raised a hand to stop him.

"I do remember you actually." I said as he looked over at his sister in surprise. "You had a talent for the bow. I am glad you survived." I ended with a smile. His green eyes shined as he bowed his head slightly.

"As am I, milady." He stated as I watched as Fréama and Boromir shared what they thought was a secret smile. It made me so happy to see the genuine interaction between them.

Fréama looked away from Boromir, meeting my eyes in the process. She blushed, her head turned away in embarrassment as I glanced over at Boromir, sending him a quick wink in which he just rolled his eyes. "You ensured my brother survived, milady." Fréama said as I looked back at her. "I will be forever in your debt." She said as I waved it off. Goodness, I kept getting gratitude from the woodwork. I may have been down playing it but they weren't needed. I just assumed people would be grateful for what I did. I didn't need it to be verbalized.

"There are no debts among friends, Fréama." I stated simply as she and her bother bowed deeply at that. Soon, we were in the midst of happy conversations about everything under the sun. Fréama and Boromir having enough chemistry to power the sun and Fréador looking on his sister with pure happiness.

After leaving Boromir, Fréama and Fréador, I made my way to my room, thoroughly exhausted and ready to pass out. As I opened the wooden door to my room, I was met the roar of the fire and the warm glow that encompassed the room. I saw Haldir standing in front of the fireplace, his arms crossed across his chest as he gazed into the flames. I closed the door behind me quietly before making my way to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist, laying my head on his back. I knew I had caught him off guard when I felt him tense slightly before relaxing. That only happened when he was deep in his own thoughts.

"What is on your mind, love?" I asked as I felt one of his hands on top of my arms, slowly caressing it as I felt him take a deep breath.

"The future." Haldir said as I felt his chest rumble.

"Of us or Middle Earth?" I asked and was greeted with silence.

"Us." He said in such a small voice that I felt my heart clench at the sound. He sounded terrified and filled with sorrow. What had caused such a drastic change from a few hours ago?

I ran one of my hands up his stomach to his chest, feeling the toned, defined muscles of his body. I wanted him to know that I was there. I placed a kiss on his back as I felt him relax more. I slowly turned him around to face me. His hands went immediately to my waist as my hands went to the sides of his handsome face. My fingers gently traced his cheek bones and his lips before settling around his neck.

"Share your burden with me, love." I said as I waited for him to continue. I watched as he calmed the emotions running rampant in his heart. I wanted to be there for him as he had been there for me. I wanted to ease the burden he felt on his heart and help him through this moment of despair.

"My thoughts grow darkas the hour grows late." He explained, his voice filled with sorrow and grief. "We honor the dead yet… my mind cannot stop from imagining yours." He finished and I felt my heart clench at his words.

"Go on." I quietly urged him. I felt him pull me closer until our bodies touched once more.

"I know we have chosen our path. We know the fate our love will bring. But I cannot help but dwell on your final days. I see your body giving away to time until time itself takes you. The thought of not having by my side for all my days… I never felt such agony. My soul shatters at the thought. It is… it is…" Haldir tried to finished but his voice grew heavy. And then I saw a tear run down his face. My eyes welled up at the sorrow he must have been feeling. I have only seen him cry once and that was when I almost died from the poisoned Orc arrow. Even though I wanted to ease his pain, I couldn't do it. I couldn't change the fact that I would die and he would have to watch me. All I could is ease his suffering with the journey we will have along the way.

"Haldir.. .nothing I can say will ease this pain. I feel what you feel, my love." I said as I wiped away the tears that fell down his handsome face. I tried to keep my tears from flowing but I failed. His sorrow filled eyes twisting my heart painfully in my chest. The pure raw grief in his eyes breaking my heart in return. "My heart breaks at the thought of not being with you until the end of time. This is something that I cannot change. Mortality is my curse that we have chosen to endure." I said as his forehead touched mine, his eyes gazing into mine as we shed our tears of sorrow for the future to come. "All I can say is that I will be by your side until time takes me. And those moments that we have, they will be filled with so love and happiness that we will forget, for a moment, what the future brings. That is all I can give you." I said as his eyes changed from grief to those filled with a fiery passion and love.

"That is all I need." He said, his voice thick with passion. I ran my hands through his soft hair as I felt his hands roam my body freely, up my sides, on my arms, down my back and over my butt. My body was on fire from his bold touch. He kissed me and I felt the sheer intensity of his love. I softly traced his lower lip with my tongue. His mouth opened willingly and at first we were tender, enjoying the moment we were creating. But then we started to duel, fighting for who claimed who. I felt myself being lifted and moved. Our passion and desire taking hold as I felt my back hit the mattress. I felt a my stomach somersault as a heat wave burned through my body as Haldir hovered over me. My hands roamed freely over his body, over his chiseled chest and stomach, and over the toned muscled of his shoulders and down his defined back. We could not get enough of each other. Haldir broke our kiss, slowly making his way down my jaw to my neck. He found my sweet spot as I arched against his body, a low moan escaping from the back of my throat.

That's when all sensible and rational thought came flood back. Haldir stopped, taking a deep breath before placing a gentle kiss on my neck. Our eyes met as his hands traced my face softly as I traced his. "I love you." I said in a whispered as he smiled, leaning back down for another gentle kiss.

"And I love you." He said as I smiled back. That's all I wanted to hear at the moment.